Gender Differences in the Use of Linguistic Forms in the Speech of Men and Women in the Saudi Context

Abstract

This study investigates the differences between Saudi males and females in the use of three linguistic features. These features include minimal responses, overlapping, and interruption, in the oral performance of Saudi speakers. Minimal responses are verbal and non-verbal indicators of a person’s participation in a conversation.  Overlapping means covering part of the same area whereas interruption stands for the action of interrupting or being interrupted.  The data are collected from a Television Program presented on MBC1 Channel. The program is called Heya wa Howa (She & He). The major aim of this study is to determine if there is any correlation between gender and the use of the three linguistic features mentioned earlier. These features are selected from many features that may characterize the speech of any interlocutors discussing different affairs.  Four episodes or interviews are randomly selected to be used for data analysis. For that purpose, the researcher has used the strategies of Erosy (2008). Each episode or interview continued for 45 minutes without breaks or interruptions. All episodes or interviews are taken from Shahid.Net which is accessible to any person who wants to follow news or films on TV.   The data analysis has revealed that females use minimal responses more often and with higher frequency than males. However, the researcher has found a significant difference between males and females in the use of overlapping and interruption features in favour of male speakers.